Shirley Boulware
Vice President, People & Culture-Operations at Southwire Company
What is your mission as a company?
To be a preferred provider of solutions to the electrical industry by providing innovative products and services with exceptional quality and delivering on our promises.
What is your company culture?
Our ONE Southwire culture prioritizes the interests of our team members, customers, communities, and shareholders through a continuous commitment to empowerment, trust, consistency, and inclusion.
What are your recommendations for seeking mentorship and support in the workplace
I recommend that you are proactive in seeking mentorships by building relationships with leaders in and out of your direct areas of responsibilities. I also think mentorships can be both formal and informal and should be beneficial for both parties. If formal mentorship is not available, then I recommend you reach out to leaders or peers you admire or have interest in their roles. Scheduling consistent one to one meetings where you talked about your aspirations, their career journey and ask for advice are key to productive and successful mentorships.
How do I ask for help as a professional?
I have found that as a professional it is paramount you ask for help when needed. You present your thoughts, ask questions, and seek out others to gain diverse perspectives and innovative solutions. The best solutions are found when we collaborate with others who have prior experience or knowledge as well as those that can look at your problem differently and ask you questions to guide your thinking.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to your college-aged self?
The one piece of advice I would give my college self would be to get comfortable with who you are and what you can achieve sooner. I would say lean into your strengths and take leadership positions that allow you to showcase your authentic self. Don’t shy away from opportunities just because you have never experienced them. Experience as much as possible in college, that includes leadership roles, study abroad, intramural sports, volunteer opportunities, etc…
How can my Auburn Engineering education best prepare me for the world of work?
My Auburn Engineering education brings me credibility in the workplace. I spent 30 years in Pulp & Paper and the past 2.5 years in Wire & Cable. I have worked half my career in engineering/operations roles and the other half in human resources roles. I learned to be a leader and problem solver. Whether I solve process or people problems, I have used my skills of collaboration, creativity, and communication that I developed at Auburn to get the best the results in all my roles.
If you were to hire someone to work with you today, what factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why?
The factors that would be most important would depend on the role in which I am hiring for and the needs for that role, but other factors that would be important would be body language, openness to new approaches, soft skills, leadership ability, candidate’s potential, confidence, and passion for the opportunity.
What types of experiences, paid employment, or otherwise, would you most strongly recommend?
Internship opportunities along with job shadowing and facility tours – The guidance would be to learn, absorb, and expose yourself to as much opportunity as you can to ensure you understand what opportunities exist and where your knowledge, skills, and abilities can be best applied.
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